Audio DSP Codec SW Developer – Lead Engineer, Senior

Company:Qualcomm India Private Limited
Job Area:Engineering Group, Engineering Group > Software Engineering

General Summary:

Job Overview

Qualcomm is a pioneering designer and developer of silicon and software for the consumer electronics market and a global leader in wireless technology. We are looking for an Audio DSP Lead Engineer based in Bangalore to work on advanced voice and music solutions.

In this role, you will lead the design, development, porting, integration, and optimization of audio codecs on ARM and HiFi DSP platforms for Qualcomm’s wireless chips. You will work closely with DSP frameworks, codec libraries, and system-level audio pipelines, integrating algorithms into production environments and enabling end-to-end audio use cases.

The position requires deep expertise in embedded C/C++ and DSP development, including fixed-point arithmetic and highly performance‑critical code. A strong focus is expected on code optimization for MCPS, code size, heap/memory usage, latency, and power consumption. You will profile, debug, and validate audio behavior on real hardware platforms and provide technical leadership in resolving complex system-level issues.

As a lead engineer, you will collaborate closely with platform, interface, and customer teams, provide technical guidance and mentorship, and drive high-quality execution across projects. Key responsibilities include developing high-quality embedded DSP software for voice and music products; troubleshooting and resolving complex issues; supporting customer requirements; contributing to project planning and execution; creating and maintaining engineering documentation; and contributing to Qualcomm’s intellectual property, including support for patent submissions.

Minimum Qualifications

• 6+ years of relevant industry experience in embedded audio/DSP software development
• Strong hands-on experience with ARM and HiFi DSP (or equivalent DSP platforms)
• Proven expertise in audio codec development and integration, including codecs such as AAC, LC3, SBC, CVSD, MP3, FLAC, AMR, or similar
• Strong foundation in audio signal processing and codec fundamentals (MDCT, quantization, psychoacoustics, bitstream structures)
• Proficiency in C/C++ for embedded systems, including DSP and ARM architectures
• Hands-on experience with fixed-point arithmetic and performance-critical embedded code
• Demonstrated ability to optimize software for:
  • Execution speed (MCPS)
  • Code size
  • Heap and stack memory usage
  • Latency and power consumption
• Experience integrating codecs into audio pipelines and system-level audio frameworks
• Experience profiling and debugging audio behaviour on real hardware platforms
• Enthusiasm for solving interesting problems, and excellent trouble shooting and analytical skills that can be applied to resolve potential system issues
• Highly professional and flexible, with the ability to deliver high quality work on tight schedules
• Eager to learn, self-motivated, independent, proactive, and able to work effectively in a team
• Effective verbal and written communication skills
• Engineering degree in Electronics, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or related field

Preferred Qualifications

• Deep experience with HiFi DSP, ARM DSP extensions, or equivalent DSP architectures
• Strong understanding of audio drivers, DSP frameworks, and embedded audio stacks
• Experience with audio pre- and post-processing algorithms

(e.g., EC/NS, ANC, AGC, SRC, limiter, multi-mic/multi-speaker processing)

• Exposure to ML-based audio processing (e.g., noise reduction, keyword detection) is a plus
• Familiarity with digital audio formats and interfaces (PCM, I2S, SPDIF)
• Knowledge of RTOS concepts such as tasks, queues, semaphores, and scheduling
• Experience with system architecture, low-level HW/SW interfaces, and hardware-software co-design
• Familiarity with Python, MATLAB, and Makefiles
• Prior experience working on Qualcomm/CSR platforms
• Experience working with customer support, platform enablement, and multi-site teams

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field and 3+ years of Software Engineering or related work experience.
OR
Master's degree in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field and 2+ years of Software Engineering or related work experience.
OR
PhD in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field and 1+ year of Software Engineering or related work experience.
• 2+ years of academic or work experience with Programming Language such as C, C++, Java, Python, etc.

Keywords

DSP, Audio, Audio framework, Audio Codec, signal processing, audio algorithm, Codec Integration, Profiling, LC3, AAC, SBC, ARM optimization, HiFi Optimization, Voice codec, Music codec

Applicants: Qualcomm is an equal opportunity employer. If you are an individual with a disability and need an accommodation during the application/hiring process, rest assured that Qualcomm is committed to providing an accessible process. You may e-mail disability-accomodations@qualcomm.com or call Qualcomm's toll-free number found here. Upon request, Qualcomm will provide reasonable accommodations to support individuals with disabilities to be able participate in the hiring process. Qualcomm is also committed to making our workplace accessible for individuals with disabilities. (Keep in mind that this email address is used to provide reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. We will not respond here to requests for updates on applications or resume inquiries).

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